Chat with Sentinel/Chieftain editor John Taylor

February 6, 2009

Sentinel/Chieftain editor John Taylor will take questions about the newly redesigned Sentinel and Chieftain.

This chat has already taken place. Read the transcript below.

Moderator

Hello and welcome to our chat with John Taylor, editor of the Bonner Springs Chieftain and the Basehor Sentinel. John will be answering questions about the new design and format for the newspapers. If you have a question, don't be shy about posting it.

February 6, 2009at 12:07 p.m.

Moderator

There were no questions submitted ahead of time, so we'll go ahead and ask John some questions.

First off, how long has this been in the works?

February 6, 2009at 12:09 p.m.

John Taylor

Well, we started talking about changing the format several months ago. We began working on it heavily, probably, about three or four months ago. Bob Nordyke, who is the director of news operations for our weekly newspapers, has been working quite steadily up until the papers came out last week, trying to help us revise and refine the redesigns. Now that the redesign is out, we're pretty pleased with the end product.

February 6, 2009at 12:11 p.m.

Moderator

What are the changes?

February 6, 2009at 12:12 p.m.

John Taylor

There are a lot. First of all, obviously, is the size. The Chieftain and Sentinel used to be, as they say in the trade, broadsheet publications, not unlike many major newspapers across the country. Now, however, we've changed to a tabloid format, a tall-tab to be specific. Pages now are similar in size, probably, to something like the Kansas City Business.

With the size change, we've had to trim back some features, most notably the Go Figure and Magic Maze puzzles, plus we've changed the Super Crossword for a regular crossword puzzle.

And we've added new features: Page 2 is packed full of them. We have a new seven-day weather outlook and our 5 Questions feature in which we interview a newsmaker about items in of interest in Bonner Springs, Edwardsville and Basehor.

We've also added our Point of View panel, a group of area residents who comment each week about an item in the news, whether it be of local, state, national or global interest. It's a way to continue the conversation in the community about issues of interest.

We hope readers also like "Our Town," a regular photo feature about events occurring in our area. This week's was on Kansas Day in our schools. I can envision future ones about other school events, chamber of commerce gatherings, community festivals, library exhibits, all kinds of possibilities.

We also added a "Neighbors" feature, in which each week we'll ask a set of questions to a neighbor in the community. It's a let's-get-to-know-him or her type of a feature.

February 6, 2009at 12:25 p.m.

Moderator

How can readers become involved in Point of View?

February 6, 2009at 12:26 p.m.

John Taylor

A couple of ways: First, if they're interested in being on our Point of View panel, they can contact me (jtaylor@theworldco.info) about possibly being a panelist somewhere down the line. If that's not their cup of tea, they can join in the online comments on each week's question.

February 6, 2009at 12:27 p.m.

Moderator

How about suggesting people for Neighbors or 5 Questions? Can readers do that?

February 6, 2009at 12:28 p.m.

John Taylor

Absolutely. We're always interested in suggestions for Neighbors, 5 Questions or any news or feature story. Just contact me or any of our staff members at (913) 422-4048.

February 6, 2009at 12:30 p.m.

Moderator

Have you had much feedback on the changes?

February 6, 2009at 12:30 p.m.

John Taylor

Not a great deal. What we've had has been mostly positive, although I've heard from a couple of readers who weren't wild about the changes. No matter how readers feel about the changes — good or bad — I'd invite them to contact me or any other staff members at the Chieftain and Sentinel and let us know how they like the changes. That way, we'll know what we're doing right and what's in need of improvement. We do listen to and depend on our readers for their input. It is, after all, their newspaper!

February 6, 2009at 12:34 p.m.

Moderator

OK. Well our 30 minutes have come to an end. Thanks for checking out our chat with Basehor Sentinel-Bonner Springs Chieftain editor John Taylor.

February 6, 2009at 12:35 p.m.

John Taylor

I'd like to thank anyone reading, also. And don't forget to let us know what you think!